Citigroup jet
 

I hear the White House called and told them to put that toy back on the shelf. About time somebody told those guys they were out of line.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090126/NEWS15/90126063/1001/NEWS/Levin+livid+over+reported+Citigroup+jet+purchase

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/26/citi-jet-purchase-50-mill_n_160807.html

I work in business aviation, so I'm a bit biased. But biz jets can be a valuable TOOL for businesses, as opposed to a toy.

Many VP\CEO types make hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per hour. So is it more cost efficient to spend several hours on a business jet or an entire day on a commercial flight? Because let's face it, commercial travel isn't exactly time efficient. Not to mention being able to tailor flight time to busy schedules.

I know it's easy to think "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" when you see a business jet. But sometimes compared to the alternative, they're the more cost effective option.

Make them take off their shoes and go though long security lines like everyone else.:p

Does a plane to carry 12 people really need to cost $50 million?

I heard Citigroup bought it a while ago. They're just making good on delivery.

I've also always wondered if there's a flight attendant on board...

...Or if you can act like a fool inside one of those planes, smoking, drinking and just carrying on. It is a private jet, after all.

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen...LCON-large.jpg
It's nice looking...:cool:

Not quite, they could have bought a used Airbus A300 for 7mil and seat 250.

Also- An airplane this size can use so many more airports than Boeings. It is far more efficient to land next to your meeting than stop at a major intl airport and still have a long drive.

In the Seattle area, there are over a dozen airports scattered around that will handle a bizjet. If you stick with the major carriers, your choices are Sea-Tac Intl, ot Portland Intl.

understand the 'need' and upside..
folks just don't want to see this now..
help we are broke...
then this..
I drive a P..but I don't ask mom for gas $..

Rika

I wonder how much Air Force one costs the taxpayers...

Both of them?

The most efficient approach would be to cut their salaries to reasonable levels. Especially when they run companies to bankrutpcy.

While a jet can make good sense for a business, public perception is also incredibly important.

The impression this leaves is pretty bitter. Even if it makes sense, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever to take delivery right now.

To rise to the top of a large company takes some smarts. How someone can be so smart, yet so stupid, baffles me.

If they weren't flying luxury motels clad in "Corinthian leather"(LOL!) people would probably not get so pissed. It's one thing to buy a small jet for business, and quite another to buy a flying Bentley.

I have a few questions:

What were they doing before the purchase of the aircraft? Flying commercial, or did they perhaps have (an) other aircraft for this purpose? Was this done for cost savings, or as an upgrade? And more importantly, is it possible to save $50 million up front and charter a business jet when necessary?

That plane could easily handle a lot more than 12 people. Wasteful.

Please.............so was the 1.2 million dollar office CEO Thain built himself @ Merrill. These guys are all about perks and appearances.

And how much is Michelle Obama going to spend redecorating the White House to fit her taste?

Equally wasteful, but....relevance?